少 means “few, little”
すくない · sukunai
- Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)
- すくない, すこし
- On'yomi (Chinese reading)
- ショウ
JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 2 · 4 strokes
The story
A small amount cut from something larger: just a sliver. 少し (sukoshi, a little) is one of the most useful words in Japanese, softening requests and adding politeness. 少年 (shounen, boy) and 少女 (shoujo, girl) name entire genres of manga. Japan's 少子化 (shoushika, declining birth rate) is the nation's defining demographic challenge.
Used in 少し (sukoshi, a little), 少年 (shounen, boy), and 少女 (shoujo, girl)
Where it comes from
Pictographic (象形文字): A small amount: grains being scattered.
Related to 小 (small) but specifically about quantity rather than physical size. The angled stroke suggests something being reduced or diminished.
To remember it: Like 小 (small) but tilted: a FEW things falling away!
Words with 少
- 多少 (たしょう, tashou): somewhat / a little
- 少年 (しょうねん, shounen): boy / youth
- 少女 (しょうじょ, shoujo): girl
Example sentences
- 少し休みましょう。 Let us rest a little.
- 少年はサッカーが好きです。 The boy likes soccer.
More from Measurement & Size
- 倍 double
- 満 full
- 大 big
- 小 small
- 短 short
- 広 wide
- 狭 narrow
- 重 heavy
- 軽 light (weight)
- 深 deep
- 浅 shallow
- 厚 thick
Learn 少 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji
Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.